Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Restricted Mobility Question

Hello everyone, I'm new to the forum, please bear with me if I make any faux pas.

My father has limited mobility (Motor neuron disease sadly) and just sold his pride and joy Jag E-type, I'm keen to talk him for a spin in my +8 (2001).

Does anyone have any helpful tips, gadgets or techniques for getting differently able people in and out a +8 long door?

Best I can offer is to sit him backwards on the seat and then (if possible) lift his legs in. Getting out is the reverse , legs first and then lean him forward and lift him from under his arms.

Got a spare engine hoist ?

Before she passed away I used to get my mother in law into the front passenger seat of our car. It was extremely awkward as she had a stoke and only had use of one arm and very limited strength in one leg, the other arm and leg could not be moved at all and really just got in the way. I found I would stand in the door area, pull her up out of the chair, swivel myself and then put her bum on the seat, then twist her in, then get her to use her good arm on the door frame to help gt her comfortable. It was very hard and I was reasonably strong, most of my wife's siblings would hire a disabled taxi and just wheel her into the back.

That was a standard sedan, obviously in a Morgan you would have the roof off but I know of many MGB owners who have had their windscreen broke by a passenger pulling on it and I expect it would be possible to break a Morgan windscreen as well.

I did think about trying to rig something up in the garage but that would only help get her in and out at home, not at the shops, doctors, restaurant etc. At that time you could buy slings that you have them sitting on in the wheel chair that hinge off the car but my car (Subaru) was not available at that time. This is not what I wanted but similar - https://www.mobilityengineering.com.au/media/uploads/docs/Kivi_Person_Lift_Brochure.pdf however I feel it might not be a good choice on a Morgan as it could damage the door hinges.

So if you just want to take him for rides in the Morgan on nice days and not take him out of the car except at home you could consider something that hangs from the roof of the garage he can hang onto to help support his weight while you get him in, or even a sling he sits in that you can hang from the roof and raise and lower him.

I had a stroke last December, so please the lack of capitalization. I am able to get in/out of my roadster and drive. I am getting Cynthia to type:

All done with Top Down. Step in with good leg standing up and slide down the back of the seat. To get out, lean over towards the passenger's side and ting put the bad leg out. Then put the good leg out and slide so you are sitting on the door sill. If needed, get someone to lift you up from there.

To drive, I've been starting in second gear and shifting to fourth. There's enough torque that very little shifting is needed. Not very exciting, but I'm moving.



PS: Getting out is also good for the observers. I have not tried getting in and out with the top up.

Sad to learn about the stroke occurrence Joe.
Good to know you continue to enjoy seat/driving time in the Morgan,
that must be significantly therapeutic.

Regards,

Before my mother passed away we bought a swivelling cushion, lots on eBay, which made swinging her legs in and out a lot easier. However that was in a Volvo, not sure how you would get on in a Plus 8, but it might help and only about £10.
Good luck
Phil.

Well, OP, here's what worked for my neighbour (now sadly deceased) who's legs would not bend at the knees. He could shuffle walk so could get to the passenger door of my Lotus Excel and collapse backwards onto the seat if I protected his head. Not a Mog problem with the hood down. He would then lie backwards across the car and, together, we would wriggle him across until his head was out the other side. Then we could tuck his legs into the passenger footwell and turn / fold his body upright. We had many fun days out but stopping for an icecream was hilarious for us and for any watchers on. Something similar, with a few padding rugs, could work in the +8.

It should be noted that Joe is much taller than average.

Joe, give Cynthia love from Audrey and I.

Use a black bin bag on the seat, that will will enable him to slide and turn, much cheaper than those swivelling cushions and just as effective......